Automobile duster with reversible handle

ABSTRACT

A brush having an ergonomic handle is utilized in conjunction with a body in different orientations as a result of rotation of the handle. Suitable handles are readily removed from the body by the user by operating a spade shaped clip or other quick release mechanism. It is especially desirable to provide a collection of interchangeable brushes and handles that provide numerous permutations for different uses. It is further contemplated that the advantages of such a system of brushes could benefit from advertising that directs potential consumers to usefulness with respect to automotive care.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.10/868,548 filed on Jun. 14, 2004, incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND

Automobile dusters are known to have a handle that is either formedintegrally with the duster body, or is screwed into the body usingmating threads. The mating threads are disposed on an end of the handle,and in a cavity in the body. As with most common household dusters, thehandle of the duster is substantially linear, and radially symmetrical.This linear, radially symmetrical handle works well for most commonhousehold tasks because the surfaces being dusted are all generallywithin close reach of the person doing the dusting.

Automobiles, however, present unique problems that common householddusters are not equipped to address. For one thing, there may besurfaces on a car that are hard for a person to reach with a commonhousehold duster. This is true not only because of the length of thehandle on the duster but additionally because of the linear nature tothe handle. A handle may be long enough, for instance, to reach a truckroof but because the handle is not angled or curved sufficiently, itwill be difficult to dust the roof of the automobile. Even if a personis able to hold the duster high enough to dust the roof with a linearhandled duster, the person's arm is likely to quickly fatigue.

While a curved handle may be desirable, a fixed arrangement between thebody and curved handle can be undesirable, in that the handle/bodyorientation cannot be adapted to different uses. For example, a usercannot switch a fixed handle from a concave down handle orientation to aconcave up handle orientation, while maintaining the dusting surface ina down orientation.

The present applicant does not know of any automobile dusters withcurved handles, but even if those products do exist, they do not addressa need for re-orientation of the curvature by rotation of the handle.

Thus, there is still a need for a duster having a curved handle, inwhich the orientation of the curvature can be changed by rotation of thehandle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a dusting system having a base,a dusting surface, and a curved handle that is releasably coupled to thebase such that orientation of the handle to the dusting surface isaltered by rotating the handle with respect to the base.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed toward methods thatinclude the steps of: providing a plurality of interchangeable dustersurfaces and handles of different sizes, shapes, or curvatures; andadvertising the plurality of interchangeable bases and handles as beingadapted to clean different parts of an automotive vehicle. It isespecially desirable to provide a collection of interchangeable dustersurfaces and handles, because a relatively small number of parts wouldprovide numerous permutations that are well adapted to different uses.Thus, a system having 5 different duster surfaces and 3 differenthandles would have 30 different permutations, including orientationchanges as different permutations. It is further contemplated that theadvantages of such a system of dusters could benefit from advertisingthat directs potential consumers to usefulness with respect toautomotive care. One combination of duster and handle may be especiallyadvantageous for cleaning the roof of the automobile, while anothercombination may be especially advantageous for cleaning the bumber.

In preferred embodiments, the handle is readily removable from the bodyby the user, without the use of any tools. Release of the handle can beachieved in numerous ways, including the use of a spade shaped clip orother quick release mechanism. In especially preferred embodiments thehandle has a terminal clip with two or more arms, each of which has aridge or other detent that cooperates with a shoulder or other latchingtype of member in the receiving cavity. Contemplated bases have a matingmechanism, such as a round, oval, rectangular, slot shaped, or otherreceiving cavity.

In another aspect the handle is ergonomic in having a curvature thatfits in the palm of a user's hand, and/or an indentation for the user'sthumb or one of his/her fingers.

Duster bases contemplated to be used in the inventive subject matterinclude numerous different shapes, with horizontal cross-sections beingrectangular, round, oval, and so forth. The handle can be disposed withrespect to the base in any suitable configuration, including where thehandle is disposed substantially perpendicular to the longest dimension.

Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with theaccompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a top down view of a duster.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the duster of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is rear side view of the duster of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the duster of FIG. 1 with a concave up handle.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the duster of FIG. 1 with a concave downhandle.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a long handle.

FIG. 7 is a top down view of the long handle of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top down view of a long handle duster.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a long handle duster.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a short handle having a quick releasemechanism.

FIG. 11 is a top down view of an alternative quick release mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a duster 100 having a base 110 coupled to a dustingcomponent 120.

Base 110 is ergonomically shaped as can better be observed from FIG. 3.The ergonomic shape of the base makes it easy to grip and use as a “handduster”, if desired. It should be recognized that other base shapes aresuitable so long as the base has a relatively flat surface that couplesto the dusting component. Base 110 is shown to be less than one half ofthe elongated length of the dusting component. It is contemplated that arelatively short base relative to the length of the dusting componentwill give the duster more flexibility than one that has a long base.This is so because the base is relatively stiff while the dustingcomponent is very flexible allowing it to adapt to the contour of theitem being dusted.

A base is preferably releasably coupled to a dusting component so thatthe dusting component can be readily replaced, however, the inventivesubject matter is not limited to embodiments in which the base isreleasably coupled to the dusting component.

Dusting component 120 is preferably has a dusting surface 125 that iscomprised of relatively soft material that is not likely to scratch acar finish. Especially preferable materials include cottons, polyesters,and other polymers. Upper surface 127 of dusting component 120 may havea backing or other substantially rigid material, however, preferredembodiments allow for extreme flexibility of the dusting component.

FIG. 3 generally consists of base 110, dusting component 120 andreceiving cavity 130. Receiving cavity 130 is sized and dimensioned toreceive a handle (not shown here). It is generally contemplated that areceiving cavity will have interior components that enable quickcoupling and decoupling of a handle. Any suitable quick releasemechanisms will suffice in this regard. For example, a receiving cavitymay have a shoulder formed within it's inner walls and such shoulder mayprohibit a handle from slipping out during use. Other embodiments thatutilize a quick release mechanism may include indentations that receiveand temporarily hold an outwardly biased portion of a handle.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a duster 400 having a short handle 410. In FIG. 4,the handle has it's concave side 420 facing up. In the orientation shownin FIG. 5, the concave side 520 of the handle is facing down. It shouldbe appreciated that the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is more likely to beused when dusting a surface that is below the user's shoulder while theembodiment shown in FIG. 5 is more likely to be used when dusting asurface that is above the user's shoulder. Note that the curve of thehandle facilitates contact of the dusting surface 430 with the objectbeing dusted.

Handle 410 operates the same with respect to the base 440 of the dusterregardless of rotation of the handle; it makes no difference which“side” of the handle is facing up, and which “side” is facing down. Theterm “side” is used here in quotes because in theory a radiallysymmetrical handle has only one side. Nevertheless, there will always beslight differences in any physical embodiment of a handle, and the term“side” or “sides” in that context refers to a hypothetical longitudinaldivision of the handle into upper and lower portions.

A quick release mechanism generally has a male portion and a femaleportion. In FIGS. 6 and 7, a male portion 610 of a quick releasemechanism can be observed on a long handle 620. Here, the male portion610 has tabs 612 which are normally outwardly biased by a spring (notshown). Tabs (e.g. balls) can be received within a slot or otherindentation in the female portion of the quick release mechanism (e.g.the receiving cavity). It is contemplated that handle 620 can be coupledto a base in either of two orientations—with the concave side 625 facingdown or with the concave side 625 facing up.

FIGS. 8 and 9 depict a duster 800 in which a long handle 810 is coupledin mesial relation with the base which is also coupled in mesialrelation to the dusting component 830. In this configuration, there isrelatively little flexibility in the dusting component because the baseprovides generally inhibits flexible movement of the dusting component.

FIG. 10 shows a handle 1000 having a male portion 1010. The curvature ofthe handle can be easily observed by reference to line 1020 which showsthe line of insertion for inserting the handle into a receiving cavity.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative handle 1100 and male portion 1110 of aquick release mechanism. Note that male portion 1110 has two outwardlybiased tapered cams 1120. As handle 1100 is inserted into receivingcavity, cams 1120 are forced inward toward the middle of the maleportion. The cams 1120 are received within indentations in the innerwall of the receiving cavity thereby holding the handle to the base.Shoulders 1130 generally abut up against a portion of the basesurrounding the receiving cavity. In order to remove handle 1100, it iscontemplated that pressure upon the sides of the handle at numerals 1140will force the cams inward and enable removal of the handle.

In use, a user simply selects an appropriate handle, positions thehandle either upside up or upside down, and then inserts the quickconnect end of the handle into the receiving slot or other mechanism ofthe duster base. To remove, the user pushes in on the sides of theconnection fork, or otherwise operates the quick-release mechanism, thenpulls the handle away from the base. To place the duster in an alternateconfiguration, the user rotates the handle 180° along its long axis, andthen re-inserts the connection end of the handle into the duster body.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that instead of or in additionto removing a handle from a duster base, rotating the handle or baserelative to one another, and then reinserting the handle, there areother ways to rotate the handle to achieve the same effect. For example,there may be a rotatable joint in the handle near its connection withthe duster base. Such a joint could be locked in a given position usingany suitable mechanism. In all such instances it is still contemplatedthat a duster having an ergonomic handle would have differentorientations as a result of rotation of the handle, as those terms areused in this application.

Thus, specific embodiments and applications of a duster with rotatingreversible handles have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however,to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides thosealready described are possible without departing from the inventiveconcepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to berestricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, ininterpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should beinterpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context.In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should beinterpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in anon-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements,components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with otherelements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.

1. A dusting system, comprising a dusting base coupled to a dustingsurface; a curved handle; and a quick release mechanism that releasablycouples the handle and the base such that orientation of the handle tothe dusting surface is altered by rotating the handle with respect tothe base.
 2. The dusting system of claim 1 wherein the dusting base hasa receiving cavity adapted to receive the curved handle.
 3. The dustingsystem of claim 2 wherein the cavity comprises a slot.
 4. The dustingsystem of claim 2 wherein the cavity comprises a shoulder.
 5. Thedusting system of claim 2, wherein the cavity comprises a tab receivingindentation.
 6. The dusting system of claim 1 wherein the mechanismcomprises at least two arms that are biased apart from one another, andthat are pushed towards one another to release the handle.
 7. Thedusting system of claim 1 wherein the handle comprises an ergonomicfeature.
 8. The dusting system of claim 1 wherein the ergonomic featurecomprises an indentation for a thumb.
 9. The dusting system of claim 1wherein the handle has a top and a bottom and each of the top and thebottom has an indentation for receiving a finger or thumb.
 10. Thedusting system of claim 10 wherein the indentation in the top is amirror image of the indentation in the bottom.
 11. The dusting system ofclaim 1 further comprising at least one indentation in the base forreceiving a portion of a hand of a user.
 12. The dusting system of claim1 wherein the base has a longest dimension, and the handle is longerthan the longest dimension of the base.
 13. The dusting system of claim12 wherein the handle is disposed substantially perpendicular to thebase.
 14. The dusting system of claim 13 wherein the handle comprises atleast two telescoping pieces.
 15. The dusting system of claim 1 furthercomprising identifying information that identifies the brush as beingfor automotive use.
 16. A method of marketing a duster, comprising:providing a plurality of interchangeable duster surfaces and handles ofdifferent sizes, shapes or curvatures; advertising the plurality ofinterchangeable bases and handles as being adapted to clean differentparts of an automotive vehicle.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein atleast one of the plurality of handles has a curvature.